Child Language: Acquisition and Development

This is the best book on the market for taking  students from ‘how children acquire their first language’ to the point where they can engage with key debates and current research in the field of child language. No background knowledge of linguistic theory is assumed and all specialist terms are introduced in clear, non-technical language. It is rare in its balanced presentation of evidence from both sides of the nature–nurture divide and its ability to make this complicated topic engaging and understandable to everyone. This edition includes Exercises to foster an understanding of key concepts in language and linguistics A glossary of key terms so students can always check back on the more difficult terms Suggestions for further reading including fascinating TED Talks that bring the subject to life Access to Multiple Choice Quizzes and other online resources so students can check they′ve understood what they have just read

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: Landmarks in the Landscape of Child Language Chapter 2: Can Animals Acquire Human Language? Shakespeare′s Typewriter Chapter 3: The Critical Period Hypothesis: Now or Never? Chapter 4: Input and Interaction: Tutorials for Toddlers Chapter 5: Language in the First Year: Breaking the Sound Barrier Chapter 6: The Developing Lexicon: What′s in a Name? Chapter 7: The Acquisition of Morphology: Linguistic Lego Chapter 8: Linguistic Nativism: To the Grammar Born Chapter 9: The Usage-Based Approach: Making It up as You Go along Chapter 10: You Say Nature, I Say Nurture: Better Call the Calling off off

About the Author :
Matthew Saxton is trained in psychology and linguistics at the Universities of Edinburgh and Oxford, and worked for about 20 years variously at Royal Holloway, University of London, Westminster University and the Institute of Education - UCL. In 2011, he retrained as a nurse and now works in the NHS at a central London hospital.

Review :
Writing in a conversational, playful voice Matthew Saxton offers a particularly engaging and accessible introduction to a wealth of knowledge about language. He models how language allows us both to share personal interests and enthusiasms and to build more public understanding by publishing and arguing about research findings. Engaging and well-organized, this textbook highlights nature-nurture debate, mismatches between comprehension and production, individual variation, and methodological issues. The second edition adds web-based support for teachers and students, including test questions and instructional slides. Updated references, some re-ordered material, and a new state-of-the-art ending further enhance this excellent textbook. This book is an extremely clear and accessible introduction to a complex and fascinating subject, essential reading not only for its target audience of psychology students but also for Early Years teachers and students. Welcome touches of humor enliven balanced and detailed explanations of theory, debates, and research evidence. This book offers a comprehensive overview of the subject of child language acquisition, and provides a balanced, unbiased discussion of the various issues and debates surrounding the topic. Saxton makes complex, and at times controversial, topics accessible and relevant, and the text will be invaluable for students of language, linguistics and psychology alike. Mathew Saxton’s Child Language is an excellent book on a difficult to understand (and explain) field. The book covers the what we know about child language development in a readily accessible, readable and at times amusing format, which is perfect for UGs who have no previous knowledge in the field. This book is the best general book on child language development that I’ve seen and I welcome the updated second edition. Simply and cogently written, this is a must-have handbook to any student, professional, or academic interested in child language, with very useful pedagogical features such as discussion boxes, case studies and exercises. Really great textbooks are few and far between – this is one. It is engaging, interesting, and balanced. I can recommend it highly. Matthew Saxton provides a compelling account and comprehensive overview of child language acquisition and development . Engagingly written in a style that draws the reader in, the book covers all the bases and provides an excellent introduction to and overview of the area. Once again Matthew has managed to tackle one of life’s most complex and confusing aspects in an accessible and engaging way. His engaging style, clarity and humour enable him to demystify the most vexing of language development conundrums. What makes Child Language: acquisition and development such a useful book for A Level English Language teachers is its clear sense of overview, helpful explanations of research and theory and extensive supporting material. If you are looking for something that bridges the gap between A Level textbooks and more challenging academic texts, this is perfect. Child Language provides a fascinating and accessible account of language acquisition, drawing on relevant theories and research. The book makes good use of exercises and discussion points to encourage the reader to critically engage, and is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the development of language. Matthew’s writing is fascinating! It is a must book that every student should have in their library. I always find Matthew’s examples so fantastic helping us to understand difficult and complex processes in child language development. An invaluable resource for students and others interested in language development. The second edition comes with a companion website that offers additional online resources to link to teaching and/or studying.